 Cars sit in the staff parking lot beside Walker Hall. Walker is adjacent to Depot Street where new weekend parking regulations will go into effect Saturday. Photo by Alex Harrison | The Appalachian The two-hour parking limit is an effort to “allow shoppers and visitors to have more time to enjoy downtown,” according to a parking document released by the town.
The Boone Town Council approved the two-hour parking recommendation of the Boone Parking Task Force, which met several times over the summer to address problems with downtown parking.
Town Clerk Frieda Van Allen said the task force was comprised of local business leaders, as well as some Appalachian representatives.
Steve McLaurin, vice president of McLaurin Parking Company in Raleigh, is a member of the parking task force.
“Without time limits, there is low vehicle turnover,” McLaurin said. “People stay all day, making it impossible for more visitors to visit downtown.”
To deal with a high demand for parking on football Saturdays, the town will enforce a modified version of the plan it implemented in fall 2009.
As part of the plan, all-day parking will be available to Appalachian football visitors in Queen Street Lot at a cost of $20 per space.
Town hall parking lot, however, will be reserved for retail customers, who must pay by the hour.
The Town of Boone has hired McLaurin Parking Company to help manage downtown parking. On game days, the company will post “ambassadors” on both the East and West ends of King Street to inform motorists of the two-hour parking limit.
McLaurin Parking will be paid $410 per week to manage downtown parking, Town Manager Greg Young said. The company will receive an extra $990 to manage football Saturdays.
“I think it’s a good move,” McLaurin said. “Boone welcomes all visitors, not just those who go to the football games.”
For more information regarding downtown parking regulations, contact McLaurin Parking at 828-264-2645.
Story: RACHEL MOBLEY, Intern News Reporter
Photo: ALEX HARRISON, Intern Photographer |
